Five Pakistanis injured after Indian forces violate ceasefire

ISLAMABAD: At least five civilians were injured on Wednesday as a result of another round of cross-border firing by Indian border forces (BSF), a clear violation of a 2003 ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and India.

Indian troops resorted to ‘unprovoked’ firing across the Working Boundary in Sialkot, said Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement on Wednesday.

A statement released by ISPR informed Pakistan Rangers ‘befittingly’ responded to the Indian firing in Hurpal and Chuprar sectors respectively.

As tension escalated in the region recently, cross-border exchange of fire was increasingly becoming frequent between the nuclear-armed rivals.

On Tuesday, Indian troops opened fire along the border in Bhimber and Chuprar sectors again, killing a civilian, Waqar.

Pakistan later in the day lodged a protest with India and the United Nations Military Observers group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) over the killing of civilians and repeated cross-border firing by Indian forces.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh on Tuesday and questioned him over ceasefire violations by BSF.

As Indian and Pakistani troops regularly exchange fire across their de-facto border in Kashmir, Pakistan has repeatedly told India to refrain from creating tensed circumstances for the soldiers along the border.

Relations between the two countries have plummeted in recent months, with India blaming militants from Pakistan for a raid on an army base in its part of disputed Kashmir in September that killed 19 soldiers.

Pakistan has denied Indian allegations, saying Islamabad would continue to give political and moral support to Kashmiris until they get independence from Indian rule.